Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-02-12
NIKE.

lltuo uGuf0 pssvSs0d nerve enough 70 saw
hundreds Of lives by her prompt action, bu
this was the way oi II. II was hot summer
afternoon, and tho most absolute quite
soiguod over tho little railroad Ataiion o
Parkcrstown, up In Northern New England
on those swelterinS July days. Not even tn,
customary loaiers were around, and only d
train time was there any show Of life
The down train wAa duo At o. 10, but until
then, aa the sensational writer's say, "ali wa,
quiet ~ the grave"
Mike was the station agents daughter and
oily child. She was hhoen, although X
small she looked three years younger, and
was usually quiet ~ . mousc--"no much
alp TO her." ~ the country folks said. In
spite Of tho current opinion, however, she
had. except ths small portion Of time this H.
tie country town SGT apart for the school
season, spent nearly all 0f her time In the
ticket office with her father, picking up lot.
ot the Morse instrument, and finally, one
day che astOuished her isther BY taking q
telegram by sound, giving hiIn neat 'tc0py.
From that day NiAie was Installed % tele.
graph operator, and the induigSnt father
weil - he could himself'--which, consider.
Ing that Mr.. Markham was considered by the
boys "a plug OPERATOR" might to called .
double mp,Iment to Nix,c.
We'll, this particular afternoon We are talk :
ing about, the aforesaid "plug" sauntered
into the depot with trouble enthroned on his
majostic brow.
"Nick, I'm summoned on jury ease up
TO the Centre Village this afternoon. It's too
late to get any body here, oven s'poslng there
Was any body To get What are We going 10
do about it9 S'pose you can tend the con.
cern alone until get back probably by q ?"
guess 80. father" replied Mike.
Likely there won't be- any passengers for the
down train this hot day, and l hops l know
enough to sell n ticket or two II there are"
"Well, SEQ that those boxes 20 by express.
The waybtlls are ready and In the drawer.
Guess you'll got along all right" and Oft he
won't leaving Mike mistress OF tho situation,
which phrase meant more than you might
imagine that very particular day.
At nrst she felt her newly acquired i'm.
portApce somewhat aud stepped about
brIskly, busting the musty ll..io office aud
watering the few plants In the window, but
there being absolutely nothing TO do aud no
one coming near, she dropped into Inactivity
and listened to the click OF tho telegraph la
strument, which to her was as comp sn iona.
bic ~ tho talk OF noar friends would be. AZ
the afternoon passoi drowsily along the heat
and stiffness overcame her, aud dropping
her flaaen head on the deck before her, She
Was soon-as one OF the good ladies OF Park
srstown was wont to express it-"in the
arms OF Morphine
Afterwards the first thing she could re.
member about 10, q voice seeming to come
IRON her dreams said "Taint likely she IL
left here alone and asleep too"
old mans probly round ewhere--but"
In y lower tone, "come on, lets go long.
Tho down train'll be aloag aad ws'll Just lay
'em OUT
she had presence OF mind enough In her
small body. and reaiizsd that safety lay In
keeping still.
"How fur Is 1t up there7